Defendant in Christmas Eve police pursuit sentenced

Published 3:00 am, Saturday, May 14, 2011

The man charged in a series of Christmas Eve police pursuits has been sentenced with a warning that any positive drug tests will result in jail.

Tyler Douglas Hobbs, 22, formerly of Sanford and now listing a Bay City address in court files, was sentenced for misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession, attempted fourth-degree fleeing and eluding, and operating with a high blood alcohol content.

Midland County District Court Judge Stephen P. Carras levied one year in jail for each of the first two counts and 180 days in jail for the third offense. The terms are suspended with credit for four days each. Hobbs also is to pay $900 fines and costs, and $314 restitution, as well as be monitored by one year probation. His driver license was suspended for six months, he is not to use or possess drugs or alcohol and is subject to random drug and alcohol screening.

Court documents state Carras warned any future positive drug or alcohol tests would result in jail.

Hobbs was originally charged with fourth-degree fleeing police, resisting and obstructing police, marijuana possession and driving with a blood alcohol content of .17 percent or more. The first two charges are felonies, while the remaining charges are misdemeanors. After the case was bound to the circuit court, Hobbs' attorney Steve Durance of Midland asked that the case be remanded back to the district court for a new plea to misdemeanor charges. Circuit Judge Michael J. Beale agreed.

Hobbs was arrested at Northern Lanes Recreation after a series of pursuits beginning on East Pine River Road. A Midland County sheriff's deputy responded to the location and found the vehicle parked in a field nearby. As the deputy approached the vehicle, the driver steered back to the road, ran a stop sign and drove away.

Later, someone else reported seeing the vehicle on Olson Road. Deputies again located the vehicle, pursuing it to Meridian and Saginaw roads. They lost it when they heeded traffic signals to maintain the safety of other drivers on the road, officials said. The vehicle was later seen heading out of Midland on Saginaw Road, and was clocked at 118 mph. Midland Police located the vehicle parked at Northern Lanes Recreation, and notified deputies.

During the pursuits, a lieutenant waited at a road side with spike strips ready to be deployed. Nielsen said a motorist saw the patrol car -- which did not have its lights on -- slowed down and headed onto the shoulder, where that vehicle ran over the spike strip. The county repaired the two damaged tires, and asked prosecutors to seek restitution to cover the expense.

Hobbs did offer an explanation of his actions during his Dec. 27 arraignment by District Judge John H. Hart, saying that he would be enrolling in drug and alcohol programs, as well as support groups due to a recent medical diagnosis, a transcript states. "That's the reason I've been acting out the way I have," he said, apologizing for placing people's lives at risk during the pursuit.